Bird species abundance and diversity has certainly changed between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was running field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). We compared the Champlain Society’s species list that they kept over the 4 year duration they were active on MDI, to the past 4 years of eBird data from 2018-2021. Since the effort of birders today is much more extensive than what could have been possible in the 1880’s lets compare the species diversity of common species. Today, there are 89 common species on MDI, whereas in the early 1880’s there were only 58 common species. So, the diveristy of regularly occuring species has increased. Table 4 lists all species that were not recorded historically, but are now common. But, when looking at the changes of the species recorded historically we do see a 23.86% decrease in these species (Fiugre 1, Table 3). Table 1 and Table 2 highlight the species with the most severe changes over the last 150 years. For a full list of changes to species see Table 5.
Figure 1. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.
Table 1. This table shows the species that have decreased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | freq.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
Figure 2. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) distribution across MDI.
Figure 3. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) distribution across MDI.
Figure 4. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) distribution across MDI.
Table 2. This table shows the species that have increased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | freq.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | rare | common | increased |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common | increased |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common | increased |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common | increased |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common | increased |
Figure 5. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) distribution across MDI.
Figure 6. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) distribution across MDI.
Figure 7. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) distribution across MDI.
Table 3. This table shows the species we know to have descreased in abundance since the 1880s. The frequency value ‘migrant only’ refers to the species not breeding on MDI and isn’t specifically associated with migratory species.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | frequency.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
Table 4. This table shows the common and uncommon species that are reguarly seen on MDI in modern times, but were not recorded in the 1880s. From this, we can infer that these species have expanded their range likely as a result of cliamte change and landscape change. There are 32 species that are now common on MDI that were not present historically, and 18 species that are uncommon but regular and were not present historically.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | uncommon |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | common |
| Cape May Warbler | Setophaga tigrina | uncommon |
| Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | common |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | common |
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | common |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | common |
| Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | uncommon |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Nannopterum auritum | common |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | common |
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | common |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | uncommon |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | common |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | common |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | uncommon |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | uncommon |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | uncommon |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | uncommon |
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | common |
| House Finch | Haemorhous mexicanus | common |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | common |
| Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | common |
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | uncommon |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | common |
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | common |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | common |
| Nelson’s Sparrow | Ammospiza nelsoni | common |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | common |
| Northern Gannet | Morus bassanus | common |
| Palm Warbler | Setophaga palmarum | uncommon |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | common |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | common |
| Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | common |
| Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | uncommon |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | common |
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | common |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Corthylio calendula | uncommon |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | uncommon |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | common |
| Tennessee Warbler | Leiothlypis peregrina | uncommon |
| Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | uncommon |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | common |
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | uncommon |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | common |
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta deglandi | common |
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | common |
| Wilson’s Storm-Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus | uncommon |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | common |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | common |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | uncommon |
Table 5. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their frquency status from the 1880s and today. If you look at the ‘Changes in Frequency’ column you can see how these species have changed from historic times.
| common.name | scientific.name | frequency.1880 | frequency.current | frequency.changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder Flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | common | common | stable |
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | rare | uncommon | increased |
| American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | common | common | stable |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | common | common | stable |
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | common | common | stable |
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | common | common | stable |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | common | common | stable |
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | common | rare | decreased |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | common | common | stable |
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | common | rare | decreased |
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | common | common | stable |
| Barred Owl | Strix varia | uncommon | common | increased |
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Setophaga castanea | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | common | common | stable |
| Black Guillemot | Cepphus grylle | common | common | stable |
| Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | common | common | stable |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | common | rare | decreased |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | common | common | stable |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | common | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | uncommon | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Setophaga caerulescens | rare | common | increased |
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Setophaga virens | common | common | stable |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Setophaga fusca | common | common | stable |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | rare | common | increased |
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | common | common | stable |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | uncommon | uncommon | stable |
| Bonaparte’s Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | uncommon | common | increased |
| Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | common | common | stable |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | rare | common | increased |
| Canada Warbler | Cardellina canadensis | common | rare | decreased |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | common | common | stable |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Setophaga pensylvanica | common | common | stable |
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | common | rare | decreased |
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | common | common | stable |
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | uncommon | common | increased |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | common | common | stable |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | common | common | stable |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | common | common | stable |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | common | common | stable |
| Downy Woodpecker | Dryobates pubescens | common | common | stable |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | uncommon | rare | decreased |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | rare | common | increased |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | common | common | stable |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | common | common | stable |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Dryobates villosus | common | common | stable |
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | common | common | stable |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | common | common | stable |
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Leach’s Storm-Petrel | Hydrobates leucorhous | rare | rare | stable |
| Magnolia Warbler | Setophaga magnolia | common | common | stable |
| Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | common | uncommon | decreased |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | common | common | stable |
| Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Northern Parula | Setophaga americana | common | common | stable |
| Northern Waterthrush | Parkesia noveboracensis | rare | rare | stable |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | common | common | stable |
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | common | common | stable |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | common | rare | decreased |
| Purple Finch | Haemorhous purpureus | common | common | stable |
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | rare | common | increased |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | common | common | stable |
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | common | common | stable |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | uncommon | common | increased |
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | common | common | stable |
| Ruffed Grouse | Bonasa umbellus | common | rare | decreased |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | common | common | stable |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | uncommon | common | increased |
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | common | common | stable |
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | common | common | stable |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | common | common | stable |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | common | common | stable |
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | rare | rare | stable |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | common | common | stable |
| White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | rare | uncommon | increased |
| Wilson’s Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | rare | rare | stable |
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | common | common | stable |
| Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | common | common | stable |
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | common | rare | decreased |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | common | common | stable |
| Eastern Whip-poor-will | Antrostomus vociferus | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Passenger Pigeon | Ectopistes migratorius | rare | extinct | decreased |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | common | migrant/vagrant | decreased |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | rare | migrant/vagrant | decreased |